building your professional network · 10/16/2018 · building your professional network sept 27th,...
TRANSCRIPT
BUILDING YOUR
PROFESSIONAL NETWORKCAREER WORKSHOP
Alex Howes, Careers Officer
U of T Faculty of Information, iSchool
iSkills - Career Development Series
Building Your Professional Network
Sept 27th, Oct 2nd, Oct 11th
Professional Communications
Sept 28th
Job Interview Readiness
Oct 10th, Oct 12th, Oct 17th
Resume/CV & Cover Letter Writing
Oct 4th, Oct 5th, Oct 9th
Leveraging LinkedIn
Oct 18th, Oct 24th
MMSt Porftolio
Oct 13th
UXD Portfolio
Oct 20th
We’ll Talk About ...
• Discuss what networking is (and isn’t) and introduce
strategies to make it easier
• Understand what makes networking challenging but
important
• Reflect and prepare key things to share about yourself
with others
• Make connections with people in this room
Why are you here?
What does it mean to network?
a supportive system of sharing information and services among individuals and groups having a common interest
two-way
interactions
how to get a jobexploiting others
for personal gain??
authentic
connections
schmoozing
thoughtful
conversation
1 (terrifying) 10 (can’t wait)
Why?
1. Learning new knowledge
2. Connections and mentors
3. Happenstance encounters
4. Practice, comfort and confidence
5. What else?
When?
• All the time
• While you are exploring careers
1. Identify your objectives
What are you looking for?
- A general overview of the
opportunities available in an
industry?
- Find out more about specific
roles?
- Advice about the application
process?
- Hoping to source some
relevant work experience?
Who is able to provide it?
How?
Start With Who Your Know
You
Friends
University
Family
Work
Where?
Informational interviews
Job shadowing
Alumni events
Networking events
Job fairs
Conferences
Seminars
Panels
Informal events – parties, weddings
Online – LinkedIn, social networks
Networking Process
Know Yourself
Find Your People
+ practice!
Networking Process
Know Yourself
What questions do you hope to
answer through networking?
What information, knowledge,
insight, or opinion can the other
person offer you?
What is most meaningful about
your academic, personal, and
professional experiences that
you can share with others?
What is your goal? Why is it
important?
Networking Process
Know Yourself
Elevator Pitches!
What are three relevant things about
you that your contact would want to
know?
Consider sharing:
Education
Something you’ve done that
demonstrates your skills, experience,
or interest in this field (i.e. school,
paid or unpaid employment, co-
curricular activities, etc.)
Your job/career or goal
Your interest in their
organization(based on your research)
Networking Process
Know Yourself
Example:
I’m in currently in the Masters of
Information program at the University
of Toronto with a concentration in
Knowledge Management. My goal is to
pursue a career in the financial industry
to build on my experience in knowledge
management from my co-op last year.
I’m currently looking for advice on how
to get into the field.
Networking Process
Find Your
People
Where have you made connections with
people in the past?
If you want to work somewhere, or have a
career in mind, who might you connect with
to learn more?
How many different categories of
connections can you think of? For example,
students, professionals, alumni, etc.
Networking Process
Find Your
People
Unplanned Opportunities
Places of Current Involvement (e.g.
volunteer / co-curricular / work
environments)
Employment related events
Online
Informational Interviews
Networking Process – Preparing
Current Position
and
Responsibilities
Career
Path &
Training
Working
ConditionsCareer
Advice
What do I ask?
What do I ask?
What do I ask?
What do I ask?
Questions ?
Association Networking
Thursday, November 8th, 2018
5:00pm – 7:00pm
Inforum